In-Ear Monitors (IEMs)
There are two main types of drivers:
Dynamic Drivers
The a dynamic driver works just like a traditional one in big old speaker. The benefit of the dynamic driver is that it produces a nice bass response, though it can be hard to miniaturize.
Balanced Armature Drivers
A balanced armature driver is pretty common in serious in-ear monitors, since it's easy to shrink down. Originally found in hearing aids, it houses a magnetic armature that moves when an electric current runs through the coil, putting pressure on the diaphragm, creating sound. It can be, and often is, paired with a dynamic driver.
Multiple Drivers
Most earbuds just have the one driver, though more and more have multiple drivers. That costs more because it's harder to cram more than one into a tiny casing meant to rest gravity-free in your ear. With multiple drivers also comes a "crossover network," circuitry meant to divide music into different frequencies and route them to the appropriate drivers, an additional payload to stuff into that tight space. Once all that is crammed in, however, multi-driver earbuds typically sound better than single-driver ones, because the woofer, tweeter and mid-range horn are more innately equipped to handle their own domains of sound—from boomy bass to sizzly treble.
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